The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-31

g~bs IL Sl,VuJ ulllS, tUCu silttI represents
$1,000; If it is for a $4,000 registered bond.
the sheet represents that much in money
value, and the eccoUnts are kept as 10 the
money value of To, paper received, 1t wAl
thus be seen tina, millions Of dollars are req
resented in this vault continuously. 10 show
the security in locking this vault, il may be
stated that there are three combination
locks, One is kept by the vault keeper, an
other 10y the accountant of the bureau, and
the third is time lock. When the vault is
locked BY the two combinations the time
lock is set for the number of hours up 10 the
following morning, and until that hour ar
rive3 there is no power or way known to open
that vault.
The system of checks against fraud or acct
dent which is now employed in the bureau
is believed TO be complete and is the result of
years of careful experience. The paper is
made at Dalton, Mass, and Is even there I'M
der the supervision and count of government
employees. When il reaches the treasury de-
partmcnt it is there counted to see that it
agrees with the invoice accompanying it,
When il is issued to the bureau upon its
requaitiOn it is counted when delivered by
the treasury counters, and again counted
when received ut the bureau by its employees.
Every time it is issued in the bureau no mat
ter TO what division, it is counted when given
out in the morning and counted when re-
turned in the evening. The other counts
during the progress Of the work are stated
above Ii there is any discrepancy in the
balances at the close OF the work, il single
sheet OF paper is missing, not single em-
ployc is allowed 10 leave the building until
the discrepancy is explained on tho sheet OF
paper is found.
In regard 10 the engraved stock there is
similar system of checks. Every plate, roll
or die, either finished or unfinished, is kept
in a vault presided over by "A custodian APP
pointed By and responsible 10 the secretary
of the treasury.
CARE OF THE PLATES.
The superintendent of the engraving divi-
sion makes requisiticn ON this custodian
every morning for the stock that he desires
for use during the day, and as each piece OF
steel is delivered it is checked 10y its number
and description and charged against him.
He, in his turn, charges the stock to the en-
graveis, transformers and cleaners who use
them Only the roll. die or plate required
for immediate use is issued, and this must be
returned and checked oil Immediately tho
work is finished At the close Of work all
the engravers and transferrers return their
rolls, dies and plates and they are checkedln,
and the whole amount is then turned over to
the custodian and by him checked off piece
by piece before it is placed in the vault
The superintendent Of the printing division
goes through the same operation in regard to
the plates that he requires to print from he
makes requisition OH the custodian for those
he requires, and they are charged to him un-
til they are returned at the close OF work and
checked Off. The bureau is busy workshop,
and furnishes employment TO some eoo per
sons. The number Of employees varies with
the amount Of work required. In times OF
nressure. such as when there was big de-
mand for four per cent bonds some years ago,
the work is kept going constantly nlght ana
day without intermission. Then there are
three separate forces who work eight hours
zach and RS soon as one finishes another Is
ready to take up the work.
There Is one process which has not been
mentioned. and that is the final disposition OF
the notes and securities after they nave Deeh
used and passed from hand to hand until they
are thoroughly worn out. When the piiis
and bonds are returned to the treasury rs
worn out they are Cancelled, and then, under
the SUPERVISION Of n special committee, they
are placed in a macerater and ground INTO
pulp again THIS pulp is worked INTO heaVy
pasteboard and sold to firm who has con
tracted to purchase it, and by them 1t is again
worked over into different kinds or paper.
So from paper it returns again, If not III Its
original, at least to kindred state. wash
ington Gazette.